Qaatil Sambhal Ke Tegh Laga Jaye Sharm Hai — Khwaja Haidar Ali Aatish
Meaning
O slayer, wield your blade carefully lest you be put to shame, for it would be disgraceful if the strap of the sword were left behind in the slain victim's throat.
Explanation
The poet speaks to the one about to strike. He says, be careful when you bring down your blade, for there is a kind of shame here. A leather strap or thong still clings around the neck of the one already slain. In other words, the killer must act with such care that no trace of carelessness remains. The image is grim but tender, reminding us that even in cruelty there is a strange etiquette, a plea for the executioner to be mindful. It mixes love's surrender with the idea of being slaughtered, suggesting the lover offers himself completely, yet asks the beloved to be graceful in the final blow.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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